Govt probes mega energy projects

ISLAMABAD:

After failing to comply with recommendations of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) while completing the multibillion-rupee Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project, the government has started probing mega projects like Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand dams in order to check compliance with environmental studies.

Earlier, the executing agencies of Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project violated the recommendations of EPA that created environmental and social challenges due to the diversion of river.

Now, a ministerial sub-committee has directed the Ministry of Water Resources to submit a report on mega projects by covering the agencies who have conducted the environmental impact assessment (EIA), recommendations of EPA and compliance with the recommendations.

The mega projects included Diamer Bhasha Dam, Mohmand Dam and Dasu Hydropower Project.

Sources told The Express Tribune that a representative of EPA informed the federal government during discussion on the project that the EPA recommendations on the EIA report had not been fulfilled. “Therefore, we are facing such issues,” he lamented.

He made the revelation during a meeting of the ministerial sub-committee constituted by the prime minister for facilitating the newly elected government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

The meeting was held on February 22, 2022, led by the Planning Commission (PC) deputy chairman.

In the meeting, the deputy chairman was of the view that environmental plans were not up to the mark and showed his concern over non-compliance with the EPA recommendations.

“Doing mitigation measures of one PC-I from another (separate) PC-I/PC-II may not justify the cost and benefit analysis,” he said.

“It is a good option to meet the cost of mitigation measures from the tariff and directions for this should be moved from the Planning Commission,” he added.

AJK chief secretary briefed the committee about the environmental issues of Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project.

He highlighted the environmental and social issues that had emerged due to the diversion of river from Muzaffarabad after the commissioning of Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project in 2018.

PC-II of the project amounting to Rs400 million was reflected in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2021-22 with the allocation of Rs100 million, it was informed.

However, the government of AJK has expressed its inability to execute the study owing to capacity constraints.

The Ministry of Water Resources was requested to execute the feasibility study. It was further informed that most projects did not have the EIA report.

Ministry of Water Resources joint secretary underlined that “PC-II has been revised by the committee constituted by the ministry and now it will be floated for international competitive bidding within a month”.

PC-II has been given the title “Eco Revitalisation of Neelum River”, as all concerns of the AJK government have been addressed under the project cycle.

Furthermore, costing of the PC-II had been made in such a way that international experts could participate, he said, adding that the advertisement would be made as per the US and UK standards and would also be uploaded on the e-portal developed by the Ministry of Water Resources.

PC deputy chairman directed that as the project PC-l was not closed, therefore, by making the required adjustments the PC-I may be revised, a member of the Planning Commission pointed out.

“We are at PC-IV stage while considering the PC-I regime,” the joint secretary (water) said.

However, the revision of PC would delay the completion and ultimately the submission of PC-IV, he added.

“For the sake of repayment of loan, we need full tariff from the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), which is subject to PC-IV submission,” he said.

He requested not to revise the PC-I, however, separate PC-I for mitigation measures would be a better option.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 30^th, 2022.

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